TEAM PRINCIPALS: Aldo COSTA (Ferrari), Colin KOLLES (HRT), Vijay MALLYA (Force India), Peter SAUBER (BMW Sauber)
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q. A question to you all about the recent decisions of the World Motor Sport Council; how they might affect your team, your particular thoughts on Pirelli or adjustable rear wings.
Colin KOLLES: Well, obviously this has all been discussed in the FOTA meetings and we basically agreed on these modifications and also to the new tire supplier, so we are happy with it.
Q. Is there anything in particular which will affect your team? Are you worried about the 107 percent rule or anything like that?
CK: I don't think we will be worried next year about the 107 percent rule anymore. This year we are more afraid about the 107 percent rule. I think it is the right decision to go with Pirelli, we were always in favor of Pirelli.
Q. And the movable rear wing?
CK: The more changes the better for a new team. I see it like this, to have maybe innovative ideas with the right people in the team.
Q. Peter?
Peter SAUBER: About the tires?
Q. About anything. You can talk about anything, even BMW Sauber if you like.
PS: I speak about the tires. I think it is a good solution for Formula 1. I am confident that they will do a good job. KERS, I think on the one hand, it is important for Formula 1 to use future technologies. On the other hand it makes the car more complicated and more expensive.
Q. So you are not necessarily in favor of KERS?
PS: I think the faster solution will be the better one. And the rear wing it's a kind of miracle for me and please ask me again after the first three races next season.
Q. It is interesting to see the number of new ideas to help overtaking.
PS: I think maybe it is a good idea for overtaking, but I think we have different opinions from the technicians.
Q. Doctor Mallya?
Vijay MALLYA: I have the proud privilege to be a member of the World Council as well and Team Principal of Force India. I am obviously involved with FOTA as well as the F1 Commission. I think that everything is discussed comprehensively first by FOTA, then at the F1 Commission level before it gets to the World Council, so at the World Council level these changes were voted in without any problem whatsoever. I think the FIA is focused on making the sport more exciting, to promote overtaking on one hand, maintaining and improving safety on the other hand, reducing costs which is a stated objective to make Formula 1 even more commercially viable and I would go along with these changes except that I would caution against repeated changes going forward. I think right now that we have a package that is to the satisfaction of all the participating teams.
Q. Aldo?
Aldo COSTA: From my side I think the World Council voted for solutions that have been studied for a long time, a lot of work has been done by FOTA teams and a lot of the job has been done by the Technical Working Group. I think we achieved quite a lot of interesting innovation in Formula 1. One point that no one is underlining, but for me the safety aspect is important. The chassis with several little modifications would be safer for next year. The FIA as usual and the teams have looked at last year and this year's crashes and, as usual, reacted on that making the chassis safer. We will have the front part of the chassis more robust, the roll loop more robust, the side protection of the chassis more robust. Underneath the chassis in the driver area. The driver will be more protected, so all very positive aspects. KERS, we spoke about already last time here. Ferrari is in favor of KERS. Ferrari would like to do more about KERS but, unfortunately, the rule that we had last year will be the rule of 2011 which is for us a shame. In terms of aerodynamic change we will have a substantial reduction of downforce without the double diffuser that for us was never a legal option. We will simplify and clarify all the rear wing elemental stuff which I think will be good for the clarity of the rule itself. We will have the introduction of the new adjustable rear wing. I have the same mixed feeling like Mr. Sauber. It is a completely new element. We have not tested it. We have studied very, very little about it. We are going with it next year, so we will see after a few races. Anyway it is a movable option, so the FIA and the teams can always decide to stop it in case it is not good enough or not good for some reason. All in all I think we have done quite a good movement (inaudible word) a rule which is safer, clearer in terms of definition and again trying, a genuine attempt to improve the show.
Q. Colin, what about reliability, progress with the team. How do you feel you are coming along?
CK: Well, regarding reliability we still have some issues on the rear end. We are trying to sort this out obviously. Xtrac is pushing to find solutions. We experienced today in free practice on both cars' rear end problems. I hope we will be fine for the weekend but obviously this is not satisfactory. In terms of progress obviously the team is making progress because we were just like a puzzle in Bahrain which was not really structured, so it has a proper structure now and we have a plan for next year how to move forward and I hope we will be successful with this.
Q. At one point there was some story about the financial situation of the team. Is that all settled down now?
CK: The story which you read was actually corrected one hour after the release because it was a wrong quote taken out of context. Obviously you have to look in a Formula 1 team every day how you find more sponsorship and how you survive. I think our situation is not better or worse than any of the smaller teams.